I Just Want to Talk to My Mom
Her mother is in Tehran. War has cut the line. In Istanbul, every unanswered call feels like a verdict.
Iran is at war. In Istanbul, actress Reyhaneh (Reyhaneh Parsa) is heading to a meeting that could change her career when her world suddenly narrows to one unanswered phone call. Her mother is alone in Tehran, internet access is restricted, and no one can tell her what is happening. Reyhaneh keeps moving through the city, calling friends, strangers, anyone with a fragment of news. Traffic roars around her; the screen glows in her hand. Still, no voice comes through. With every failed attempt, fear begins to replace fact – and imagination becomes its own form of torment.
Built around Parsa’s raw, tightly controlled performance, “I Just Want to Talk to My Mom” turns an ordinary journey into a relentless psychological pressure chamber. Director Mohsen Rabiei uses spare dialogue and alert visual storytelling to let Iran’s social, cultural and political realities enter without breaking the film’s intimate grip. His focus remains fiercely personal: one woman, one absent voice, and the cruel distance between hope and knowing. How long can Reyhaneh keep calling when every silence threatens to become an answer?
Milani Perera

Biography
Mohsen Rabiei (1980) is an Iranian filmmaker, director, writer, producer and editor born in Iran and based in Türkiye, with more than twenty years of professional experience in cinema. His work includes feature films, documentaries and other film projects, with a recurring interest in human stories, psychological tension, social realities and individuals facing difficult choices. His filmmaking practice combines writing, directing and editing, allowing him to approach stories from both narrative and visual perspectives.
Filmography
(valik/Selected): Kin (2019), Orman (2022), Nirvana (2024), O Gün Hava Bulutlu Degildi (Wasn't Cloudy That Day, 2024), Emma the Cute Dog (2026), I Just Want To Talk To My Mum (2026)
Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn, Award for Best Director, grant of 5000€ from Alexela
Screenings



